Trichy Residents Voice Frustration Over Lingering Telecom Pits
In Trichy, a significant delay in closing pits excavated for the installation of private telecom cables has sparked widespread concern among residents. The issue, centered in areas like the Cantonment, involves open trenches that have remained unfilled for weeks, leading to complaints about safety hazards and the loss of already scarce parking spaces.
Safety and Parking Concerns Escalate
According to corporation sources, a private telecom company was authorized to lay fibre optic cables using the trenchless method, which minimizes surface disruption. However, the pits dug along roadsides have not been properly restored, creating persistent problems. On Collector Office Road, which links the Major Saravanan roundabout to the district collectorate, multiple open pits pose a direct threat to pedestrians, especially at night.
T Rajendran, a resident of Raja Colony, expressed his frustration: "Parking near shopping complexes is already limited. These open pits are consuming what little space we have, forcing us to park on the carriageway and worsening traffic congestion."
Additional Hazards and Official Response
Residents report that some pits, measuring two to three feet deep, have turned into dumping grounds for plastic waste, exacerbating environmental and health risks. Shopkeepers have also raised alarms, alleging that pedestrians have slipped into these pits during nighttime hours, highlighting the urgent need for action.
In response, corporation officials have stated they will conduct inspections of the affected sites. They plan to direct the telecom company to promptly close the pits and restore the road stretches to their original condition, aiming to alleviate the community's distress.
